Improvement in alcohol-lamps for medicated vapor-baths



euren @rares armar @erica Ii. lil. HICKS, OF MIDDLETOQVN, CONN., ASSIGNOR TO (i. S. F. (lRISIVOLD.

ll/IPROl/EMENT lN ALCOHOL-LAMPS FOR l/lEDlCATED VAPOR-BINS.

` Special-ation forming part oi' Letters Patent No. SAS, daed Mal-th lli, li l; anirdatiul Y December l5, 18:13.

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Be it known that I, LUCIEN E. Hicks, el the city of Middletown, State of Connecticut, have invented and applied to use anew and useful improvement in the mode of regulating the burning of alcohol or other iniiammable liquids when used for vaporbathing or other purposes, of which the followiugjs a specification. 4

In order to illustrate the nature ot' my vsaid improvement, it will be necessary to'describe an article used in vapor-bathing as a whole, and which contains and whereby I can best set i'orth my said improvement. I will therefore referto the drawings accompanying this speciication.

Figure l represents the base ot' said article or lamp, it being about nine inches in diameter by two inches in depth,made o." cast-iron,

and standing` on legs.

A is an aperture two inches deep and three and one-half inches diameter, being inthe cenler of thclamp or circular chamber wherein alcohol is burned.

P P are small communications, indicated in the drawings at cavity D, above the plate, but are cast on the under side opposite the marks. They are one-fourth inch in diameter, extending i'rom aperture A to the chamber c c, for conduct ing the inilammable liquid tothe aperture A.

B Bis athin east-iron valve three and one-half inches in diameter,with a thumb-piece and rod attached. It is placed at the top of ,the aperture A,wherc it is made to revolve, so as to regulate the strength of blaze and amountof heat. It the valve be placed perpendicular and a match applied, the inflammable liquid burns free. It' turned horizontally, the blaze is at once extinguished.

c c is the circular chamber for containing the tiuids. It is constructed around the aperture A at a distance of two inches, there being a cavity, D, intervening, for keeping the alcohol contained in chamber c c cool. The top of this chamber is crowning near the outer edge, and on the top of this chamber I have' a crease or grooveone-fourth inch in depth, as shown at il. a, for receiving the fiat ring, Fig. 2.

a is a small aperture on the top of fountain or chamber c c, for discharging the contents of said chamber, its diameter being one-fourth `inch,and having a east-iron stopper to iit. The

bottom of this chamber c c should be nine inches diameter," the inside being somewhat dishing, to allow all the liquid to drain from the chamber. The sides rise two inches perpendicular, and connect with the top, thus forming a reservoir that will hold one quart.

Fig. 2 is aiiat ring three and one-half inches Wide, its diameter being eight and onc-l1alf inches, and made of sheet-iron, having holes through it on every side for admittingair. This ring supports the evaporating-pan above.

Fig.`3 is a castiron pan for evaporating water and receiving various medicaments to be volatilized by heat. Its diameter is Ieight and one-half inches and depth averaging one and one-,half inch, supported by the ring, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cast-iron cover made crowningI and to iit the evaporating-pan, Fig. 3. Y

H is a small hole in the center, one inch di ameter, having a small projection to receivea pipe or hose i'or conducting ofi the products ot' the pan when required.

In order to produce vapor, dre., for bathing, supply the lamp with alcohol or other iniiammable liquid, and the pan with water or medicaments, set iire to the liquid in aperture A, and i-X the ring, Fig. 2, upon the chamber, settingits lower edge inthe groovcau. Then set the pan, Fig. 3, upon the top ot' the ring, where it will iit. Next put on the cover, Fig. 4. Place the whole under a stool or chair. rIhe patient then takes a seat, throwing around the Whole a blanket or curtain. In a few min utes the air becomes charged by the heat ot` the blaze, combined with the evaporating water, the., so as to produce profuso sweating.

Let it be here remembered that as the consumption of the liquid goes on in the aperture A asupplyis kept up throughthe communications P P from the reservoir or chamber c c, and that the space or cavity D, separating the main body ofthe liquid from that on tire, tends to keep it cool. Thisisnecessary, forif the whole ,body of liquid were hot ignition would go on too rapidly. The amount of blaze and degree of heat can be regulated and graduated by the action of said valve B B opening and closing The aforesaid construction of the chamber will secure the liquid in the chamber or reservoir from ignition.

The aperture A should be similar in form and size to that described, inorder to secure a sufficient amount of heat for a large person.

Although the size of the aperture should be made or depend much upon the use for which it is designed, a plurality of apertures and valves, however, may be constructed and set aroundthe lamp or aperture at different points, instead of one aperture, and the valves maybe of different kinds to suit-to Wit, sliding, rotary, toad-stool, divided, &c., or a set ofvalves,which would answer the purpose may be constructed by inserting a second ring Within the ring represented by Fig. 2, having corresponding holes, to be closed all on the same principle; but the construction I have described and adopted seems to me to be far the best.

What I claim as my invention and improvement, and Wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The method of regulating the burning of al cobol or other inflammable liquids by means of the application of apertures and valves, as above set forth and described, when applied to vapor-bathing or other purposes separately, and also in combination with a chamber or reservoir, c c, for holding theinannnable liquid that is to be conducted and burned at the aperture A, and gradually supplying the same therewith during the process of combustion, constructed and operating` as above described, so as to prevent ignition. v

Dated at Middletown, State of Connecticut, this 27th day of February, A. D. 184:4.

L. E. HICKS.

Witnesses:

CURTISS BACON, DENNIS SAGE. 

